The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) is pushing for joint management and governance to protect Victoria Anepahan Mountain Range (VAMR).
VAMR has a total land area of 164,789 hectares, that covers 31 barangays in Puerto Princesa City, and the towns of Aborlan, Narra, and Quezon.
“Though studies show that it holds astounding biodiversity of unique species and widely-intact ecosystem, it still has no defined management framework and is continually threatened with conservation issues such as illegal logging and wildlife poaching. PCSD believes that inter-LGU management and agreement will effectively mobilize the protection and development needed by VAMR, founded in Article III Section 33 of the Republic Act 7160 that states LGUs may group themselves for purposes commonly beneficial to them through appropriate ordinances,” PCSD said in a statement.
To pave the way for its protection and management, various government agencies and stakeholders proposed that an autonomous body to be known as Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range Management and Planning Board (VAMR-MPB), be created and shall be composed of the mayors, PCSDS, DENR, civil society, non-government organizations, academe, etc.
Prior to the finalization of the drafting and formulation of MOA, the Sanggunian of Puerto Princesa City, and the municipalities of Aborlan, Narra and Quezon shall pass a resolution authorizing their mayor to enter into a MOA.
“The Provincial and City Department of Interior and Local Government and PCSDS are looking forward to facilitating the inter-LGU MOA signing this coming December 18,” PCSD further said in a statement.
The initiative for VAMR’s protection, conservation, and sustainable management started in 2015 by the VAMR Technical Working Group composed of representatives from PCSD Staff, Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Inc., IDEAS, Western Philippine University, NTFP, and DENR-PENRO.